On this episode of No Coaster Needed, I sat down with my brother, Jarrett McCourt. He is the Principal Tuba at the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida.

Jarrett’s playing was recently called “warm, romantic and seamless” by the South Florida Classical Review. He has performed with a number of different high-level ensembles, can be heard on several recently released CDs and has either won or advanced at ten competitions in the past five years. Most notably, he won the top prize in the brass category of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal’s prestigious Standard Life Competition in 2014, becoming the first tubist to do so in the competition’s 75-year history. Jarrett is also currently on faculty at New World School of the Arts at Miami Dade College.

On the show, we talk about how Jarrett got into music, what he took away from his time working at a crisis hotline, his TSA struggles, being an Canadian in Miami Beach and all of the anecdotes in between.

Jarrett plays with the New World Symphony. To follow their work, check out NWS.edu. If you want to follow the work that Jarrett does, you can check out his website at JarrettMcCourt.com or follow him on Instagram @JarrettMcCourt. He’s also a photographer and posts his photos on Instagram @jmccourtphotography.

Interview Notes: 1:55 First exposure to music 4:25 The first person to say: “...you can make it in music.” 6:05 How did you choose Western University... 8:00 ...and how did you choose performance? 11:50 Going to the University of Michigan and how “rankings” affected his mindset 15:20 Student Life at Western University 17:45 Jarrett’s best tip for mentorship 20:15 An experience from Jarrett’s time working a crisis hotline 29:50 Being told “no” while applying for Doctoral programs and applying for jobs 35:30 Travelling with two Tubas (aka TSA nightmares) 43:55 Moving to Miami to play with the New World Symphony 48:25 Living in South Beach 52:40 Advice about facing adversity

Season 1 of No Coaster Needed focuses on people with ties to Windsor, Ontario.

To see updates about future No Coaster Needed shows, visit NoCoasterNeeded.com or follow me on Twitter @JacobMcCourt.

On this episode of No Coaster Needed, I sat down with Maureen Lucas. She is both Past President & CEO of LucasWorks and an Entrepreneur-In-Residence with the University of Windsor’s EPICentre.

Maureen has been recognized for many years on the Profit W100 List for Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs and the company she founded, LucasWorks has been on the Profit 500 List for the last 7 years consecutively. Maureen is also a proud Rotarian and a founder of 100 Women Who Care Windsor-Essex, a group dedicated to giving large contributions to local community causes and who are committed to community service.

On the show, we talk about Maureen’s start in the hospitality industry, founding, growing and selling a business, adjusting to changes in the market and her own company, her work outside of work and all of the anecdotes in between.

If you want to follow the work that Maureen does, check out these organizations and causes: The University of Windsor EPICentre: epicentreuwindsor.ca The Windsor Rotary Club: rotary1918.com. 100 Women Who Care Windsor-Essex: 100WomenWindsor.com

Finally, if you wanted information about the company that she founded, LucasWorks, you can check that out at LucasWorks.ca.

Interview Notes: 1:40 Growing up in the Windsor area and working in hospitality 2:45 Making the transition from hospitality to recruitment 4:35 What is a Recruitment Agency and what does the day-to day look like? 5:55 Starting in industry as a receptionist & working with unique customers 8:40 Starting her own company: LucasWorks 13:00 Hurdles, early milestones and the 2008 recession 15:40 Opening an office in London 17:45 Maureen’s support system and business growth 20:10 When should you let go of certain functions of the business to other people? 21:30 Expanding into Professional Search 23:50 Selling LucasWorks and how people reacted to selling the business 28:05 One piece of advice for a former self 29:30 Transitioning to work with the University of Windsor EPICentre 33:25 Working with the Rotary Club 35:05 The importance of a mentor 37:10 Biggest piece of advice for entrepreneurs 39:30 A note about employee recognition 40:25 What’s next (i.e.: 100 Women Who Care Windsor-Essex)

Season 1 of No Coaster Needed focuses on people with ties to Windsor, Ontario.

To see updates about future No Coaster Needed shows, visit NoCoasterNeeded.com or follow me on Twitter @JacobMcCourt.

On this episode of No Coaster Needed, I sat down with Irek Kusmierczyk. Irek is both the Director of Partnerships with WEtech Alliance and a Windsor City Councillor For Ward 7.

Irek has a PhD from Vanderbilt University in the United States and a Master Degree in Government from the London School of Economics. Irek sits on multiple boards including Essex Regional Conservation Authority, Transit Windsor and Windsor Public Library. He is also a proud Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar.

On the show, we talk about Irek’s move to Canada from Poland, returning to Europe to study, interviewing for a Rotary International scholarship halfway across the planet in the early 2000s, being in Nashville during the 2008 election, snakes and all of the anecdotes in between.

If you want to follow Irek or see his full Windsor City Council voting record, you can visit his website at irek.ca. You can also follow him on Twitter @Irek_K.

Interview Notes:

1:40 Being born in Poland, becoming political refugees and a one-way ticket to Toronto 4:50 Moving from Toronto to Windsor (and almost ending up in Winnipeg) 7:55 Being embraced the Polish community in Windsor 10:05 Moving to Ottawa for a journalism degree and looking up to Anna Maria Tremonti 11:50 Getting more international experience at the London School of Economics 13:22 Studying Eastern European politics in Poland and the unbelievable tale that got him there 21:50 Hiking across Poland 24:35 Lessons learned from all of that walking 28:25 Vanderbilt University, Nashville and the election of Barack Obama 32:00 Returning to the Windsor area in 2010 and snakes 38:00 Working with FIRST Robotics at WEtech Alliance 41:10 Hacking Health 43:50 Running for Windsor City Council 48:50 Time Management and Wrap-Up

Season 1 of No Coaster Needed focuses on people with ties to Windsor, Ontario.

To see updates about future No Coaster Needed shows, visit NoCoasterNeeded.com or follow me on Twitter @JacobMcCourt.